Universal joint.



No. 666,406. Patented lan. 22, |90I- F. E. BOCORSELSKI.

UNIVERSAL'JOINT.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.) (N o M o d e I.)

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IINTTan STATES PATENT Ormea.

FRANK E. BOCORSELSKI, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,406, dated January22, 1901.

Application tiled October 29, 1900. Serial No. 34,769 (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK EA BocoRsnLsKi, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the city and county of Hartford, in theState of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Universal Joints, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to universal joints and is in the nature of animprovement upon the universal joint shown and described in LettersPatent of the United States No. 658,057, granted to me September 18,1900, to which reference may be had.

An object of the present invention is to furnish an improved,inexpensive, simplified, durable, and efficient joint adapted for use asan actuating-connector between two obliquely-disposed rotative members,such as shafts, subject to deflection or angular adjustment withincertain limits and also to so construct and organize the parts of saidjoint that they may be readily assembled and disassembled.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved universaljoint embodying two forked shaft-sections, two relatively rotativeintersecting pins or members connecting said sections, and anoil-chamber surrounding one of said members and adapted automatically tosupply oil to the bearing parts as required.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved universaljoint having two forked shaft-sections which are connected together by auniversal or gyroscopic coupling center or device supported uponantifriction elements, suoli as balls, which take the end thrust of saidcoupling-center.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the several partsof the universal joint, substantiallyas hereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specication,Figure l is a side View of a universal joint embodying my presentinvention, one shaft-section of the joint being shown disposed at anangle of about thirty degrees with relation to the other. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of the universal joint with one of thecoupling-pins in elevation, said section being taken on a linecorresponding with the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is across-sectional view of the joint, taken on a line corresponding withthe dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.Fig. 4 is another central longitudinal section of the universal joint,taken on a line corresponding with the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Similar characters refer to like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

The universal joint embodying my present invention comprises in theconstruction and organization thereof shown in the accompanying drawingsthree essential elements, to wit: two bifurcated or forked coupling-heads or shaft-sections (designated in a general way by B and B',respectively) and a gyroscopic coupling-center or universal connector(designated in a general way by C) of novel specific construction andorganization disposed between and operatively connecting the two forkedshaft-sections. In the drawings both coupling-heads or shaft-sections Band B are shown of the same general construction, and for conveniencecertain duplicate parts thereof are indicated by correspondingcharacters.

Each co upling-head, stub, or shaft-section is shown consisting of acylindrical body portion of uniform diameter from end to end and havinga groove or slot 5 formed longitudinally and centrally in the inner endand eX- tending transversely from side to side thereof, whereby to forma fork or bifurcation the Separated walls or prongs of which areintegral with the body portion and have their outer faces curved in thedirection of their widths and disposed in a common arc concentric to thelongitudinal axis and coincident with the circumferential arc of saidbody portion. The two prongs of the shaft-section B are for conveniencedesignated by 6 and 6', and those of the section B' are designated by 7and '7'. The walls or prongs of each shaftsection are slabbed off atopposite side edges, as at 8, whereby to reduce their widthssufiiciently to permit free movements of the prongs of one section, whenthe shaft-sections are connected, between the walls or prongs of theadjacent shaft-section, the inner faces IOO of the prongs of eachshaft-section being disposed in parallelism with the longitudinal axisof said section and the extreme outer ends of said prongs being roundedo in the direction of their widths for obvious reasons.

The gyroscopic connector or coupling device C between the twocoupling-heads or shaft-sections is shown consisting of two concentricmembers 9 and 10, one member, as 9, of which is in the nature of a tubeor sleeve having parallel end faces fitting between the inner adjacentfaces of the prongs of one section and having diametrically oppositeplane side faces fitting between the adjacent faces of the prongs of theother section, and the other member, as 10, of which is in the nature ofa roller or pin and is rotatably supported with relation to the prongsof one shaft-section, and both of which have transverse registeringcylindrical openings or bores anda rectangularly-disposed solidcylindrical member 12, extending entirely through the twoconcentrically-disposed members 9 and 10 and connected at opposite endsto the prongs of the other shaft-section.

In the construction shown the sleeve or tube 9 not only constitutes astrengthening-bearing for the two intersecting membersor pins 10 and l2,but is also constructed to constitu te an oiling device whereby oil maybe supplied to the bearing or wearing parts of the joint. v

In constructing the tubular memberl 9 a round bar of steel, ofslightlygreater diameter than the distance between adjacent inner facesof the two prongs of one shaft-section and of a length substantiallyequal to the distance between said faces, is axially bored its entirelength to receive the pin 10, and the diametrically opposite side facesare slabbed off to fit between the adjacent inner faces of the twoprongs of a` shaft-section, as will be understood by reference to Figs.1, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the longitudinal bore in the member 9 beingof a size to permit the ready insertion and removal of said pin 10. Thistubular member 9 has an annular oil chamber or recess 9 formed in theinner face thereof, in which is preferably placed a piece of felt orwicking or some suitable material adapted to absorb sufficient oil tolubricate the contacting parts or bearings of the joint, oil-holes 13and 13 being formed transversely in said member 9 and leading from theouter face thereof to the oil-recess, whereby oil may be convenientlyintroduced, as will be apparent by reference to Fig. 2.

As will be readily understood by reference to the drawings, theforli-prongs ofeach shat`tsection B and B' have central bores having acommon axis disposed at right angles to and intersecting thelongitudinal axis of said section, the bores of the prongs of onesection being of a diameter a shade larger than the greatest diameter ofthe larger coupling member or pin l0 and those of the other sectionbeing of a diameter corresponding substanthe prongs 7 and 7 of themember B.

tially to the diameter of the smaller coupling memherorpin 12. In oneconstruction (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) the two larger bores in the prongsof the shaft-section B will be tapped to receive the externally screwthreaded bearing members hereinafter described, and the small bore inone prong of the other section B will also be tapped to receive the ex-`ternally-screw-threaded end of the pin 12, as

will be hereinafter referred to. In the preferred construction andorganization thereof shown in the accompanying drawings the largercoupling-pin l0 is rotatably supported at its end with relation to theprongs 6 and 6 of the member B, and the smaller couplingpin l2, whichextends transversely through the coupling-pin 10, is fixedly connectedto It will be obvious, however, that either one or both members 10 and12 may be rotatably supported with respect to the prongs with which theyare connected. Therefore it is not desired to limit this invention tothe specific construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings I` have shown two sets of antifriction elements (balls)14 and 15, respectively interposed between the end journals of thecoupling pin or member 10 and the bearings therefor. (See Figs. 3 and4.)It will be obvious, however, that the invention is not limitedto thespecific construction of the coupling-pin 10 or the supporting meanstherefor, as these may be. modified within certain limits withoutdeparture from the invention.

In the construction and organization thereof shown in Figs. 3 and 4 thelarger coupling pin or member l0 has diametrieally-rcduced journals atits outer ends supported between two sets of balls located in racewaysformed betweensaid journals and the conical inner faces of the twobearing members 16 and 17, which` are screwed into the larger tappedbores in the prongs 6 and 6 of the shaft-section B, the bearing membershaving their outer end faces substantially fiush with the outer faces ofsaid prongs, means being provided, such as set-screws 18 and 19, forpreventing rotation of the bearing members 16 and 17 when in theiradjusted positions. It will be obvious, however, that other means may beprovided for locking the adjustable bearing members against accidentalrotation.

In the construction shown in the accompanying drawings the smallercoupling-pin l2 is shown symmetrical or of substantial uniform diameterfrom end to end, one end of said pin being externally screw-threaded, asat 20, and having a screw-threaded bearing inthe tapped bore of one ofthe fork-prongs, as 7, of the shaft-section B', the opposite end of saidpin having means, such as a notch 21, whereby said pin may be turned inassembling and disassembling.

As a convenient means for locking the coupling-pin l0 against rotationwhen in its IOO IIO

assembled position, a set-screw 22 is shown screwed into a screwthreaded hole formed partly in the periphery of the pin l() and partlyin the inner face of the bore of the prong in which this end of the pinis seated, as will be understood by reference to Figs. l and 2 of thedrawings. It will be obvious, however, that other means may be providedfor locking` the coupling-pin against rotation.

The construction above described, whereby the pin lO has one end thereofscrewed into one prong of the shaft-section to which it is connected,facilitates the ready assembling and disassembling of the parts of theuniversal joint, as it is simply necessary in disassembling the parts toremove the locking device or set-screw 22, unscrew the pin l0, and drawthe same out, which will leave the large pin l0 in condition for readyremoval.

I claiml. A universal joint embodying two forked shaft-sections; acoupling-center having two cylindrical members one of which extendstransversely through the other and is threaded at one end into the prongof one shaft-section; and a locking device in connection with thethreaded member.

2. A universal jointcomprising two forked shaft-sections; acoupling-center embodying two cylindrical members one of which extendstransversely through the other and has a screw-threaded bearing at oneend in the prong of one section, and the other of which is supported atopposite ends for rotative movements in the prongs of the other section,and both of which have their end faces iinsh with the outer faces ofsaid prongs; and a set-screw engaging one prong and the threaded memberwhereby to lock said member against rotation with relation to saidprong.

3. A universal joint embodying` two forked shaft-sections; andacoupling-center between said sections consisting of twoconceutricallydisposed cylindrical members each having a centralcircular transverse opening therethrough, the opening in one registeringwith that of the other, and the inner member of which is supported atopposite ends in the prongs of one section; and a transversely-disposedcylindrical member extending entirely through and supported for rotativemovements in the two concentrically disposed members and having ascrew-threaded bearing at one end in one prong of the other section.

4. A universal joint consisting of two cylindrical shaft-sections orcoupling-heads of uniform diameter from end to end and each having anintegral fork at the inner end thereof the outer faces of the prongs ofwhich are disposed in a common arc coincident with the circumferentialarc of the body portion of said section; two concentric members one ofwhich extends through the other and is rotatably supported at its endsin the prongs of one fork; a second cylindrical member extending throughthe two concentric members and having a screw-threaded bearing at oneend in one prong of the other fork; and a setscrew disposed inparallelism with the axis of the second member and engaging the prongand said second member, whereby to lock said member against rotationwith relation to said prong.

5. A universal joint consisting of two cylindrical shaft-sections orcoupling-heads of uniform diameter from end to end and each having anintegral fork at the inner end thereof the outer faces of the prongs ofwhich are disposed in a common arc coincident with the circumferentialare of the body portion of said section; two concentric members one ofwhich extends through the other and is rotatably supported at its endsin the prongs of one fork; a second cylindrical member extending throughthe concentric members and having a screw-threaded bearing at one end inone prong of the other fork; and alocking device in connection with theopposite end of said second cylindrical member.

6. A universal joint consisting of two cylindrical forked shaft-sectionsthe forks of each section of which are formed integral with thebodyportion and have their outer faces curved in the direction of theirwidths in a common arc coincident with the circumferential arc of thebody portion and having their inner faces parallel with the longitudinalaxis of said section; two relatively transverse members one of whichextends through and is supported for rotative movement in the other andthe inner one of which is rotatably connected at opposite ends to thefork of one section and the other of which has a screw-threaded bearingat one end in one fork of the other section; and a set-screw for lockingthe lastmentioned member against rotation.

7. A universal joint comprising two forked shaft-sections; acoupling-center for said sections including an oil-chamber disposed tosupply oil to the bearing parts, and also includin g two relativelyrotative members having intersecting axes of movement; balls interposedbetween the ends of one member and the forks of one section; andadjustablysupported bearing members in connection with said balls.

8. A universal joint comprising two shaftsections having integral forksat the inner ends thereof; internally-conical bearing members adjustably supported in transverse bores in the two prongs of one fork; acouplingpin having opposite ends thereof supported in coperativerelation with the adjustable bearing mem bers; balls interposed betweenthe bearing members and adjacent ends of this pin; a smaller pinextending through a transverse opening in the first-mentioned pin andhaving a screw-threaded bearing at one end in one prong of the otherfork; and means for locking this pin against rotation.

9. A universal joint comprising two cylindrical forked shaft-sections,the forks of each Section of which are formed integral with the IOO IIO

IZO

body portion and have their outer faces curved in the direction of theirWidths in a common arc coincident with the circumferential arc of thebody portion; two relatively transverse members one of which extendsthrough, and is supported for rotative movement in, the other and bothof which have their opposite ends extending into bores in the prongs oftheir respective sections; cone-bearings adjustably seated in the boresof the prongs of one section; and balls disposed between saidcone-bearings and ends of one member.

lO. A universal joint comprising two forked shaft sections; a gyroscopicconnector between the forks of the two sections, and including tworelatively rotative members disposed With their axes of movement inintersecting planes and one of which members includes an oil-chamberadapted for supplying oil to the bearing parts.

l1. A universal joint comprising two cylindrical shaft-sections ofuniform diameter from end to end and each having an integral fork at theinner end thereof, the outer faces of the prongs of which are disposedin a common are coincident with the circumferential arc of the bodyportion of said section; a tubular member disposed between the prongs ofthe two forks and having an oil-chamber formed in the inner face thereofwith an oil-hole leading thereto; a coupling-pin in connection with theprongs of one fork and extending into the oilchamber of the tubularmember; and a second coupling-pin in connection with the prongs of theother fork and extending into said oilchamber with its axis inintersecting relation to the axis of the iirst-mentioned pin.

Signed by me at Hartford,Connecticut, this 25th day of October, A. D.1900.

FRANK E. BOCORSELSKI.

